A/N: Okay I'm blackmailing you all now š. If you don't start reading my original novel "My Grand Adventure" which is available on my profile. I'm going to discontinue this fan fiction and shelve the Tensura (That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime) Fan fic I'm working on. Yes I'm petty like that š. So go read, comment, review and powerstone my novel please!!!!!!
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Zeno Zoldyck took the file from Elder Hiroshi's desk and began flipping through it. His sharp eyes moved methodically from one page to the next, scanning the details of each profile in silence. After a few minutes, he nodded slightly, closing one of the folders with a gloved hand.
"The talent pool this time around seems particularly incredible," Zeno said, his tone calm but genuinely impressed.
Elder Hiroshi smiled, pleased by the compliment. "Of course. This year, Meteor City invested a great deal of resources into developing its most promising talents. Their quality is assured, I can promise you that."
Zeno gave a quiet hum of approval and continued flipping through the stack. His hand suddenly paused on one of the files ā a page featuring a boy with short white hair and a black cloth covering the entire top half of his face. Zeno's brow arched slightly.
He began reading the document carefully. "Nen userā¦ twenty-nine confirmed killsā¦" His expression grew more intrigued with every line. "Interestingā¦"
After a moment, he removed the profile from the file and handed it toward Elder Hiroshi. "Tell me more about this one."
Elder Hiroshi reached for the file, his expression faltering slightly. A faint look of embarrassment crossed his face as he spoke. "Ahā¦ I must apologize, Lord Zeno. This child is quite a unique case. He is not one of the candidates for selection. His profile made it into the file by mistake."
Zeno's eyes narrowed with mild curiosity. "Oh? And why is that?"
The Elder cleared his throat softly. "Firstly, Yuzuki is not a talent under the guidance of any Elder. I've personally tried to recruit him several times, but he has rejected every offer. He'sā¦ an independent child, and truth be told, quite strong. Extremely so, for his age."
Zeno leaned back slightly, exhaling through his nose. "Now I'm really interested," he said, half to himself. "A ten-year-old Nen user who refuses Meteor City's Eldersā¦ intriguing indeed. Someone like that would be perfect to serve as my grandson's butler one day ā of course, not yet. But when the time comes for him to learn Nenā¦"
Elder Hiroshi gave a small, uneasy smile. "There is a small problem, however. A bounty of fifteen million has just been placed on his head."
Zeno dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "That's no problem whatsoever," he said evenly. "Though I am rather intrigued as to why someone so young has earned such a price. But I suppose that's a story for another day."
The Elder nodded, his smile returning. "In any case, I have no control over whether he joins you or not. The most I can do is arrange a meeting. You can try to recruit him yourself."
"Please do so," Zeno said immediately, his tone decisive.
Elder Hiroshi nodded and turned toward the door. "Geno!" he called out.
Within seconds, a young subordinate entered and bowed respectfully. "Elder Hiroshi."
"Geno," the Elder said, "can you locate Yuzuki for me, please, and ask him to come see me at once? Tell him a very important guest wishes to meet him."
Geno straightened and replied, "Elder Hiroshi, Yuzuki is actually already in the waiting hall. He's been wanting to meet you."
The Elder raised his brows slightly. "Oh? Then please, invite him in."
"Yes, sir," Geno said with a bow, then turned and exited the room.
Zeno folded his arms behind his back, a faint, amused smile touching his lips. "Now then," he murmured, "let's see how this plays out."
---
The doors to the Elder's office opened quietly, and Yuzuki stepped in. The moment he did, the air shifted ā heavy, oppressive, alive. His instincts screamed at him, the hairs on his arms standing straight. The aura of the man sitting beside Elder Hiroshi was unlike anything he had ever felt before. Cold, sharp, and impossibly calm.
Elder Hiroshi stood up with his usual polite smile. "Yuzuki," he greeted warmly, "I'm sorry for taking time out of your day for this, but for your benefit, I wanted you to meet the man before me."
Yuzuki took a seat without hesitation. "No, no, Elder, really, it's fine. I was going to meet you anyway," he said casually, his tone respectful as always. Then he turned to the old man before him. "Nice to meet you, Mrā¦?"
The man's eyes narrowed slightly, amused. He caught the cue and answered, "My name is Zeno Zoldyck. But you can call me Zeno."
Even with half of his face covered by the black cloth, Yuzuki's surprise was unmistakable. Zoldyck? It made sense now ā the suffocating pressure, the killing intent restrained beneath a calm exterior. Of course it belonged to someone like him. One of the top ten human Nen users in the world. Butā¦ why was Zeno Zoldyck looking for him?
Zeno chuckled softly, reading his thoughts with uncanny accuracy. "It seems you've heard of me, Yuzuki."
Yuzuki nodded. "Of course. Zeno Zoldyck ā the former head of the infamous assassin family, the Zoldycks."
Zeno smiled faintly. "It seems we're quite popular."
Elder Hiroshi laughed lightly, interjecting, "Surely you're joking, Lord Zeno. Who in this world hasn't heard of the Zoldyck family?"
Yuzuki nodded politely. "Yes, and Miss Kikyo is a role model to a lot of people in Meteor City," he said before smoothly changing the topic. "If I may ask, though, what would Mr. Zeno be looking for me for?"
Zeno chuckled again, clearly entertained by the boy's directness. "Straight to the point, huh? I like that." He leaned forward slightly, his tone growing thoughtful. "Yuzuki, what are your plans going forward? Have you considered leaving Meteor City?"
Yuzuki didn't hesitate. "Yes. That's actually the reason I came to see the Elder today ā to collect on the ID he promised me."
The Elder blinked in surprise. "You're already thinking of leaving?" he asked, visibly taken aback. "Isn't it a bit too early? You're still young ā only ten years old."
Yuzuki met his gaze evenly. "Elder, age is meaningless against strength. I think I'm strong enough to hold my own in the outside world."
Zeno nodded approvingly. "Indeed, you're not wrong." His tone then shifted slightly, becoming more serious. "But tell me, Yuzuki ā are you aware there's a bounty on your head?"
Yuzuki's brow furrowed slightly. "A bounty?" He looked genuinely confused for a moment ā until realization hit him. His voice dropped. "Vasco Melnarā¦"
Zeno tilted his head, studying him. "So you didn't know. It's listed at fifteen million."
Yuzuki gave a small, humorless laugh. "How generous of them."
Zeno's lips twitched in amusement. "You know who put it up, then?"
Yuzuki's tone was quiet, but sharp. "I know exactly who it is."
The Elder folded his hands together, his smile returning though his eyes carried concern. "Then you should stay in Meteor City for now, Yuzuki. Lay low until the bounty fades."
He knew full well Yuzuki would likely refuse Zeno's offer ā but if he could at least keep him within Meteor City, there would still be a chance to recruit him later.
Yuzuki, however, only laughed lightly. "As long as the assassins aren't Lord Zeno and Silva, I think I can handle most of them."
The Elder gritted his teeth subtly, keeping his smile fixed. "It seems you've made up your mind, then."
Zeno chuckled, shaking his head. "You know, there are still dangerous assassins aside from the Zoldycks, boy."
Yuzuki turned toward him, smiling faintly beneath the edge of his cloth. "Lord Zeno can say whatever is on his chest."
Zeno smiled ā not the smile of an amused old man, but that of a hunter recognizing something familiar in another predator. "Alright then," he said finally. "I'll get straight to the point."
His voice dropped into a calm, deliberate tone.
"Yuzukiā¦ would you like to become a butler of the Zoldyck family?"